Posts Tagged ‘Thoughts’

16 Oct

My mind has patterns, some good, some harmful!

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

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My mind has patterns, some good, some harmful!

From the earliest memory, my mind and nervous system would lock on to my dad’s behavior, that’s where imminent danger lived for me.

My nervous system was always alert, ready to go to Defcon five in seconds.

This was reinforced every day I lived in that house.

To this day, my mind will lock onto imminent danger, (perceived imminent danger) my mood races to extremes, reacting subconsciously to its perceptions.

My mind, my stored implicit memory, thinks I could be gravely hurt by the current stimulus.

It’s called PTSD and our mind and nervous system are wired differently, hard-wired in extreme survival mode.

My childhood was 17 plus years of daily criticism, physical and emotional abuse.

My brain subconsciously scans the horizon, spotting danger, navigating around people.

My attachments have always been shallow, I always depended on myself, made my own decisions.

My PTSD brain is rigid, anxious, and aggressive, that is a male trait I believe.

I do not understand how people can trust, risk betrayal, or worse.

It is beyond avoidance for me, I do not trust or have a desire to trust.

There is nothing in my memory bank that reinforces attaching to strangers or anyone else.

Emotional safety is the foremost consideration before I leave this house for anything.

I hate it.

I could take anyone afraid of heights up to the top of the Empire State Building.

All the focus and breathing and thinking will not shut that fear down.

You will not be able to calmly analyze anything, think about a dinner engagement, or have a happy-go-lucky experience.

You will be tense, muscles, tendons, nervous system scared to death. You are frozen, parts of the cognitive thinking are offline, rational thought is impossible.

Think you could do some algebra or thread a needle?

Is happiness a choice right now?

How long will a mind be upset from a near-death experience? Hours, days, weeks?

That’s what an intense trigger felt like for me.

That’s PTSD.

13 Oct

Normal mind and our PTSD mind

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

A model brain bisected IMAGE: THE THALAMUS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE ‘BORDER IN THE BRAIN’ (FLICKR/DJ NEIGHT/CC BY NC ND 2.0)

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I can take a step back, pull away from my cognitive engine, observe my PTSD brain dysfunction.

It is like we have two minds, a Ptsd-driven side that runs by itself and our regular thinker.

The PTSD brain is automatic and reactive to triggers and trauma. Implicit memories explode, transporting us back into trauma events from the past.

The PTSD mind is rigid, consumed with fear, violent emotions, and anxiety.

He is an angry, resentful soul who seeks revenge. He has social anxiety, so isolation and avoidance have taken a toll.

The normal part of my mind is more present and open. He is much more outgoing and engaging, relaxed with himself and others.

This mind sees opportunity, calm, and some happiness.

The other PTSD part endures constant suffering, confusion, and fear.

He battles to extinguish the thoughts and negative emotions, to transform back into a somewhat normal existence.

I have to ignore so many harsh judgments that the PTSD mind creates.

He is like a sick Ego, wanting revenge, feeling outraged towards others.

Mistrust is all he knows, betrayal is kryptonite for him.

You can see how life can be all suffering when the PTSD mind is in control.

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9 Oct

PTSD: Beyond Symptoms

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

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Most of my harsh PTSD physical symptoms have faded or been reduced to a low level through my healing efforts.

Hypervigilance, triggers firing, high anxiety and raging fear have subsided.

Besides depression and low-level anxiety, PTSD’s impact shows up in avoidance, isolation, the lack of desire to trust or bond with people.

What relationships I have left on this planet are shallow except for my kids and grandkids.

You will not find me on Facebook claiming 100’s of friends in a relaxed setting.

I do not have family pictures on my walls, or self-portraits, my ego was obliterated by my father’s abuse.

My life does not contain what normal people crave. I am ok with that.

My daughter tells me Facebook is for connecting to all your friends and family, keeping them apprised of our life.

I have had no use for this platform at any time in my life.

This blog is my outreach. Trying to share and support other traumatized people is my Facebook, I guess.

I do not trust putting myself out there in a public forum.

My life deals with the danger and possible betrayal posed by people, not the joy of needing small talk with others to feel included.

How am I supposed to trust, be relaxed enough to risk being vulnerable, when I fear what people will do to me?

Am I supposed to care about attaching to others more than my safety?

What is the benefit for me? Does it overcome the risk of betrayal?

No!

We avoid, lack the composure to feel safe around people.

Being seriously abused as a kid has a lifetime of suffering and isolation waiting for you.

I may heal but I will never trust people.

I am ok with that.

I am not a victim, by necessity I have had to learn to need very little to navigate life.

I fear people way more than Ptsd. Trust was something that I used once, with one person, and that public betrayal changed my life forever.

Happiness and trust do not mix in my mind or life.

My happiness does not contain what others think happiness consists of.

That’s alright with me also.

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8 Oct

Real Fear versus PTSD Fear

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1031042908411618836/

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This is what PTSD fear looks like to others watching us.

They see no danger, we feel like we are on a ledge 100 stories high, our fight or flight mechanism explodes.

My trauma drugs have stopped dumping into my nervous system, that part of my PTSD has gone dormant.

Focused breathing practice every day for months made the mechanism friendly.

Our defense mechanism, the fight or flight mechanism, called the adrenal stress response by the professionals, have no intention or emotional feelings.

When we face an imminent threat, our defense mechanism fires before thought, before any cognitive function, in fact, parts of the mind shut down to prioritize our best chance at surviving.

PTSD highjacks this mechanism, firing it erroneously at old non-lethal trauma thoughts.

PTSD has access to the on/off switch.

At my worst, my fight or flight mechanism was firing over 15 times a day.

The moral of this story eluded me, I was not damaged, imminent danger never showed up, in 15 minutes my nervous system was back to my normal.

Was I damaged? No! Why did I continue to fear I would be hurt?

I had no answer to that question.

I was deathly afraid of this mechanism firing, avoided every chance a trigger had at igniting.

No real danger exists inside this mechanism, know that the narrative of trauma drives our fears.

Our thoughts and emotions make the fight or flight scary.

I sat in the middle of my trigger firing, focused on my breath and the corresponding body sensations. I stayed present, focused which help integrate trauma to the present moment.

My fight or flight mechanism stopped firing for triggers in due time.

This is half the battle.

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7 Oct

“Coping with traumatic-related dissociation”: Core Beliefs

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/449163762845733503/

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Chronically traumatized people often suffer from persistent core beliefs.

These are deeply rooted convictions that typically involve all-or-nothing thinking without balance or nuance.

“Things never work out for me,” “People always try to hurt me,” I am completely stupid and unlovable,” or ” There is no safe place.”.

These beliefs often contain words like always, never, or none. Such thoughts and beliefs can profoundly influence, reinforce, and intensify negative emotions.

Negative core beliefs are reinforced over time by negative emotions, perception, and predictions, and by additional negative life experiences.

The same is true for positive core beliefs and attendant receptions, emotions, and experiences.

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My two cents: It Seems affirmations and mantras are good practices to combat these negative core beliefs.

Our biggest crime is leaving our minds unattended.

Rick Hanson in “Buddha’s Brain” details how negative thought is like Velcro while positive is like Teflon.

PTSD thoughts and emotions are Velcro on steroids.

Observing our mind in its minute-to-minute existence is crucial for our wellbeing.

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6 Oct

Do not focus on limitations, find a small specific goal to relentlessly pursue.

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , .

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/846958273680956350/

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PTSD confuses the mind it inhabits with symptoms that prepare him/her for an imminent threat. This scenario is part of survival mode, a highly charged emotional state of danger, followed by an avoidance, a denial, or a numbing freeze state of existence.

All this is complex and overpowering for any mind to handle.

Those who strive to improve know the limitations childhood abuse places on their lives.

Out of this complex crisis, we need to find simple, bulletproof ways to battle trauma.

Our rules to improve: Forget about limitations, forget about judgments, forget about healing, focus on one small specific goal at a time.

My goal is to sense and move my PTSD energy around and out of my body.

Healing is not my goal, that is way too abstract and complex.

Our goal should be within reach, practical and specific.

Obtain a goal then move to the next challenge.

Never try to address more than one symptom at a time.

We are using a laser, pinpointing a small specific goal, not a shotgun approach.

Let go of all those judgments and predictions, stay focused in the moment with our goal as our bellwether.

Questions we search for: What is PTSD’s favorite emotion?

What is his favorite narrative?

What are his patterns?

Feel its energy flowing inside, sense its purpose, and roadmap.

Know thy enemy intimately, knowledge is power in this battle.

Know your PTSD micro-energy movements and behavior.

I have a one-word chant, a mantra to open my heart, solar plexus for me, a release word to say when trauma energy is present.

It is Yam, pronounced Yaam, a simple vibration to focus on opening and releasing my PTSD energy.

If nothing else it is something to focus on instead of the narrative.

Simple execution, practice the mantra during the day, then apply anytime we sense PTSD energy flowing.

Simplify the goal, use intense focus and awareness, practice daily with intent.

In my mind I relentlessly pursue my small, specific goal daily.

We need to see ourselves as warriors not victims, not helpless.

Good hunting!

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4 Oct

We are the Shepard, the Ego is the sheep.

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

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Theranos CEO Elisabeth Holmes, Our example of an Ego gone crazy.

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We are the Shepard, the Ego is the sheep.

The sheep do not make judgments for the Shepard.

The Ego is just a creation of the mind without origin or power source.

Egos give massive power to accomplishment, status, looks, smarts, and wins.

None of that matters when we die and leave this planet.

I think most have heard of the Theranos gal, Elisabeth Holmes, who claimed to invent a world-changing blood test.

https://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-inventor-out-for-blood-in-silicon-valley

This documentary details how an out-of-control Ego is never, ever satisfied.

My Ego judged her Ego as narcissistic or deranged, someone who claimed to be greater than Thomas Edison and named her fake machine, “The Edison”.

These are grandiose Egos, abused kids marvel at how people like this can claim such importance.

She feels power and confidence in the middle of this scam’s meltdown.

An Ego like this will never admit wrongdoing or failure.

Some Egos will never admit loss, defeat, ever.

Our PTSD Ego acts differently.

We avoid, we feel danger, fear, and mistrust groups of people. We would never be outbragging in the face of a scam like this.

With my skill set, I could have coached so many kids in baseball.

With my abuse, the parents keep me away, I do not need any more drama or criticism.

I would coach the kids without the parents and enjoy it.

PTSD limits life without us understanding the reason.

I need to expand my boundaries, I need too badly but I lack the desire to be around people.

It is sad, I guess, I have never trusted people so it is familiar and safe for me.

Happiness is never experienced around people for me.

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2 Oct

Mindfulness: the opposite of the Ego

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/512354895104988211/

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The ego grasps identity, selects strong emotions, needs approval, achievement, and a sense of superiority.

Mindfulness is about letting go, bringing perspective to desires.

The ego is rigid and narrow, mindful flexible, and expansive.

The ego is created, mindful just is.

The ego thrives in dissociation, mindful only knows this present moment.

The ego feels isolated, better or worse not equal, the mindful totally connected to one another and things.

The ego is like a prison, the mindful freedom, the universe.

The ego always needs, unfettered desire, the mindful, fulfilled with life exactly like it is.

The ego judges, the mindful accepts, observes.

The ego avoids, the mindful stays even when vulnerable.

The ego has goals, the mindful a journey.

The ego restricts growth, the mindful unlimited opportunity.

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The ego feels unworthy, the mindful complete.

The ego races, the mindful enjoys, slows.

The ego affiliates with anger, hate, resentment, the mindful has perspective and balance when expressing emotions.

The ego is lonely, the mindful at peace.

The ego is sad, the mindful happy.

The ego never feels equal to another, the mindful lives in harmony.

The ego immerses itself in drama, the mindful stays calm.

The ego suffers, the mindful endure pain without suffering.

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26 Sep

The invisible Monster: PTSD

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532550724677841406/

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Yesterday, frustrations boiled over, something invisible, abstract, was dominating my life.

It’s called PTSD, not a birth defect or physical issue, more an invisible vapor that confuses us.

My current real-life is high jacked by trauma memories.

As I share my narrative with a therapist, friend, or in a group, I realize how humiliating living this way has become.

Who wants to be this vulnerable and detached.

Living in survival mode, worry, doubt, and spotting danger replaced feeling safe and attached.

I can not will this mess away.

In my pursuit of a cure, I can observe Ptsd from a distance, operating without my input. He sort of takes over my mind, my thought patterns, and nervous system, sometimes in a split second without warning.

I know these damn memories are 50 and 60 plus years old!

It makes no logical sense. Our defense mechanism has a flaw, it’s called PTSD.

Our defense mechanism, our right amygdala has stored trauma memories from the past.

These stored memories, put away under imminent danger have never gone away.

One trauma event can last the rest of our life.

Certain traumas have ruined lives, they never recover, death would be a better outcome.

That statement is my own, bias as hell but I have witnessed what PTSD has done to people.

In a way, I see our defense mechanism is broken.

Tasked with protecting us, our defense mechanism now torments us.

Look how the apparatus designed to protect us, haunts us.

I am in the middle of climbing out of this hole, it’s scary, depressive, filled with mental and emotional detours.

What lies between us and well-being?

Nothing solid, only some defense drugs and outrageous thoughts.

Somehow, I am going to escape this invisible prison.

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15 Sep

Unused Emotions: Warning; sarcasm and gallows humor ahead!!

Posted by Marty in Assorted. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

You Can Stop Apologizing for Your Sick Sense of Humor!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/498281146262541482/

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My PTSD symptoms have developed into habits, some emotions have been tamped down, almost buried.

I feel the void watching others interact, watching such trusting and kind emotions surface.

Defenses are down, they display warmth, I am envious, a coldness engulfs me.

I do not feel what they feel? Why is what they do worthless to me?

People laugh out loud, hug each other, seem to absorb great emotional rewards, valuable property. They smile and I guess life is good.

This sharing and community must be happiness. What do they feel?

Memories and terror are absent from their demeanors, their behavior. I do not feel safe, free, exuberant emotions, not in private, not in public.

I have no idea what this abstract thing they enjoy, it seems to fulfill them. Makes me uncomfortable.

They have some special connection, attachment, some secret communication of knowing, trusting. I think they developed this in childhood, the security they feel is also foreign to me.

I have not and do not feel these emotions and never would I trust people like this.

Why have certain emotions been absent from my life? When others have warm inclusive feelings, mine are cold, watching for danger.

Have they not been betrayed, publically humiliated, beaten half to death as a kid?

Oh, I love gallows humor, you have to laugh at what we were born into.

If you do not believe in reincarnation, childhood abuse sucks.

If I ignored my PTSD, did nothing to heal, I would expect to suffer.

Why does my PTSD haunt me after a decade-plus of intense effort?

I navigate life in a narrow alley of confusion, anxiety, and terror, finally absent of guilt.

Words can not explain the emotion of unworthiness at my core.

How could my friends understand my feelings, understand my words, or what my life is like?

How should I look at my life at 70, hope for healing by 80?

Sarcasm and gallows humor. Depression is so serious.

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